Wednesday, 30 November 2011

True to nature - both mine and Mother Nature herself - I keep on "mossing" the place.

The little "tree" above was made by a twig from the forest (with a convenient "tripod" at

the top end), a moss ball and some conkers to keep it steady in the concrete pot.

***

And if we look the other way...

Well, a mini Christmas tree has found its way in, subtly decorated with some tin hearts.

Perhaps I have gone a little overboard with the moss this year, but I find it a lovely way of introducing a natural, seasonal vibe to the house, and one which does not cost a thing! However, with fresh moss come a LOT of new house friends... and the slug that was found yesterday hanging in a thin thread of its own slime, dangling under the moss wreath I have made and hung above the kitchen table (will show you soon), well, he has been shown the door and will have to find somewhere else to celebrate the festive season!

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last post and welcome to all new readers!

Sunday, 13 November 2011

... maybe enjoy a few minutes of watching grown men cuddling on the ground
(forgive me, all rugby fans, I am a little ignorant of the rules of this sport)...

Perhaps admire the view of another back-side (the clue is in the moo)...

But best of all, one could enjoy a competitive game of Pooh sticks! As in Winnie the. As in drop a twig on one side of the bridge and hope it comes out first on the other. And if it doesn't, claim the one that did was yours. Perhaps not in the best Winnie the Pooh spirit, but boys will be boys. Need I say the worst looser is the oldest "boy" of the three...?

... they have created a fabulous little slice of vintage heaven in their former garage (!),

offering coffees, cakes and lighter bites, which you can enjoy at one of the old wooden tables,

whilst you listen to the shelves whispering tempting tunes of pretty tins and yummy foods...

(Love the coasters Lucy has made from old grain (?) sacks! - Not for sale.-)

***

Again, I bow humbly at your incredibly kind words on my last blog post. I am very frustrated I have not got the time to visit you all and tell you in person how happy and "lifted" I feel when I read your amazing comments, but thank you, THANK YOU! Every comment is like being given a hug and an approving pat on the back, and I soar. I think I might just have the loveliest readers in the blog universe!

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

A few days ago, we went for a walk in and around the lovely village of Castle Combe again...

... discovering that Mother Nature...

(The Old Rectory Tea Rooms, here decorated for autumn. See here what it looked like in August.)

... was in full swing creating her golden mood board for the season...

Our walk at one point crossed the golf course behind the village...

...but for those of you who are golfers, don't worry, despite being a snap-happy girl, not afraid to climb high and low for a good shot, I did keep strictly to the paths on the golf course...

There is a saying in Swedish that "green is lovely and yellow is ugly" ("grönt är skönt och gult är fult"). Yellow may perhaps not be my favourite colour, but when Mother Nature is holding the paint brush, her art work is FAR from ugly..!

In fact, I was so inspired by this golden glory, that I decided to bring some of it indoors...

... and in my next blog post, I will show you how...

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last blog post. You make my day!

Click on the image to visit my Interior Styling & Photography website

Welcome to my blog, where I hope to share a few glimpses of interior and garden decorating ideas and of the life of a Swede in the UK. Unable and unwilling to stick to one style, my house hosts a mix of Swedish-Danish-French country style, with a hint of New England and a whiff of the Orient. I tend to surround myself with pale, calming colours, but sometimes also flirt with a more spicy palette. With inspiration from nature, recycled items and a dose of cheeky playfulness, I try to see beauty in the little things and items that may at first appear scruffy and 'past their best'. I hope you may find some inspiration here. Välkomna!

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are my own, so please ask if you would like to borrow them, and always state the source.

Some of my photos from the Swenglish Home featured in Franciska Munck Johansen's book...

Out now - Click on the image to see where it is sold

Some of my photos in Franciska Munck Johansen's Christmas book......

Out in November 2012

Our home featured in...

April issue 2012

Our home featured in German magazine Landhaus...

July/August issue 2012

Our home featured in...

Hungarian Interior Magazin Otthon, 2013/06

Some of my photos in ...

Norwegian magazine Vakre Hjem, March 2011

Some of my ideas and photos in...

Hungarian magazine A Mi Otthonunk, Dec 2011

Some of my photos, texts and ideas in...

Wiltshire Magazine April/May 2012

Some of my work published in...

Wedding Flowers Magazine July/August 2012

Some of my work published in...

Good Homes Magazine, February 2013

The Swenglish Home is a member of...

About me

I am a forty-something Swede and I live with my familyin an 18th-century cottage in a small hamlet outside Bath in the UK. I previously lived in an early Victorian house nearby, the interior of which is the one featured here during the first four years of the Swenglish Home blog (Feb 2010 - Feb 2014). When I am not busy picking flowers by the road side or plotting a new interior project, I work as a university lecturer and consultant in Intercultural Communication.

For my work as a Communication Consultant and University lecturer, see my website: